Located on the northern tip of West Papua, Sorong is the gateway to the Raja Ampat Islands which is becoming more and more popular with cruisers. For reports by cruisers who have visited Sorong - go to Related Reports.
There have been some recent near-misses with positions being taken from the paper charts for the Sorong area. Paper charts and GPS can vary up to 500m. Please take care when using paper charts for primary navigation.
Entering the 'lagoon' should only be done during daylight and requires keeping a good lookout for reefs.
Sudden tropical storms (that at times can be severe) can cause problems in the main Sorong harbor area, with boats dragging and anchors becoming entangled.
Comfortable harbor for visiting yachts and liveaboards, haulout facilities, fresh supplies available at the local market, water and fuel, large swimming pool available for a small fee. There is good provisioning here and more 'western' foods can be found.
Security in the Sorong area is a concern. Thieves target predominantly unattended boats, however cruisers have reported being boarded and robbed while on board in 2023. Some boats have been raided twice during their stay here. Thieves target outboard motors, jerry cans of fuel, computers and mobile phones.
Security grills on hatches are helpful and assist with ventilation. It is best to leave at least one crew member on board and make sure that target items are carefully and securely stowed. Keep the decks well lit at night. A popular tactic is for groups of young people to paddle out to yachts to “say hello” and sometimes request photos with owners, but in fact are “casing” the boat for easily stolen items. It is advisable to come up with a good excuse for not inviting people on board.
Warwick Alliston of Helena Marina can organise boat caretaking.
See Docking for information on the most secure anchoring location in the harbor.
0°53’28"S, 131°15’51"E
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